Scotland Avalanche: Three People Killed

A third person has died after being caught up in an avalanche in the Scottish Highlands have died.

The two men and a woman were caught up in the avalanche shortly after midday on Thursday in the Chalamain Gap area of the Cairngorms.

The group had been airlifted to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary after being found by mountain rescue teams, Northern Constabulary said.

A police spokesman said no further information would be given about those involved until their families had been notified.

Police had launched a search with mountain rescue teams, rescue dogs and two helicopters.

"The phone call came into the team leader, reporting that there was an avalanche with multiple burials," said David Rutledge, the training officer for Cairngorm Mountain Rescue team, who controlled the operation from the team's base.

"We needed to get there as quickly as possible."

He said the accident had occurred relatively close to the roadside, within 2km (1.2 miles) of the ski road.

Mr Rutledge said two parties of six were involved in the incident in total.

Those not taken to hospital were walked off the hill.

It was the latest incident in the Scottish mountains in recent weeks.

Earlier this week, a hillwalker died during an expedition with a mountaineering club in the Cairngorms.

Graham Connell, 31, from Castleford, West Yorkshire, was found dead in the Jacob's Ladder area on Monday after a large-scale search for him and five other people who were reported overdue on Sunday afternoon.

The other members in the party, who were unhurt, were picked up by an RAF rescue helicopter after being located by Braemar Mountain Rescue Team on a hill near Carn Tarsuinn.

Earlier this month, three men survived falling 150m in an avalanche in the Coire an t-Sneachda area of the Cairngorms.

The men, who were wearing helmets, were airlifted to hospital with leg injuries.